Coleus plant named &#39;balaupea&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Coleus  plant named ‘Balaupea’, characterized by its variegated foliage of varying amounts of green, yellow, greyed-purple, and greyed-orange color, and vigorous, upright, and bushy growth habit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Coleus plant botanically known as Solenostemon scutellarioides and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balaupea’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program carried out during January 2002 at Cartago, Costa Rica.

The objective of the breeding program was the development of new Coleus cultivars with unique leaf shapes and coloration.

The female (seed) parent of the new Coleus was Solenostemon scutellarioides variety ‘Ducksfoot’, not patented. The male (pollen) parent of the new variety was Solenostemon scutellarioides proprietary breeding selection 01Co30-1, not patented. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during August 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar, by terminal stem cuttings since 2002 in West Chicago, Ill., has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balaupea’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Coleus plant.

1. Variegated foliage color of varying amounts of green, yellow, greyed-purple, and greyed-orange color.

2. Upright bushy plant form.

3. Vigorous growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in foliage color and from the female parent primarily in foliage color.

Of the Coleus cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar to the new cultivar is ‘Balausher’, U.S. Plant Patent application Ser. No. 10/109,034. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balausher’ in the following characteristics:

1. Foliage of the new cultivar has variegation of different colors than the foliage of ‘Balausher’.

2. Plants of the new cultivar have more leaves per branch than plants of ‘Balausher’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, a typical plant of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describe the colors of ‘Balaupea’. The plant was grown for 7 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth habit of ‘Balaupea’.

FIG. 2 illustrates several leaves of ‘Balaupea’ showing the variation in color with young leaf at far left and most mature leaf at far right.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is the R.H.S Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Sep. 24, 2004 in West Chicago, Ill., between 10:00 and 11:45 a.m. under natural light conditions.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 7 weeks while utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 75°to 85 F. (24°to 29° C.) during the day and approximately 60°to 70° F. (15°to 21° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels were maintained at approximately 4,000 to 10,000 footcandles during the day.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Solenostemon scutellarioides cultivar ‘Balaupea’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female (seed) parent.—‘Ducksfoot’, not patented.         -   Male (pollen) parent.—Proprietary Solenostemon             scutellarioides breeding selection 01Co30-1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal tip.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 4 to 6 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 14 to 21             days.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous. -   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Vigorous and freely branching.         -   Form.—Upright, bushy.         -   Crop time.—Five to seven weeks are required to produce             mature plant from rooted cuttings.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of foliage:             Approximately 24.4 cm. Width (area of spread): Approximately             36.8 cm.         -   Branch description.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Square in cross             section. Length: Approximately 20.7 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 6.5 mm. Texture: Puberulent. Color: 144A.             Length of internode at center of branch: Approximately 3.4             cm -   Foliage description:     -   -   Number of leaves per branch.—Approximately 24.         -   Fragrance.—Slight, spicy.         -   Form.—Simple.         -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Angle to stem.—90 degrees.         -   Appearance.—Dull.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Margin.—Lobed.         -   Apex.—Acute to broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Size of mature leaves.—Length: Approximately 5.8 cm. Width:             Approximately 3.7 cm.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Glabrous. Lower surface: Sparse with             moderate pubescence along veins only.         -   Color of young and mature foliage.—Upper surface of young             foliage: Margin of 143A, midsection of 187A, and base of             153D. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Margin of             143A, 187A in central section of apical half, varying             amounts of 171B and 71 B in central section above base and             11A at base. Midvein and veins are 187D.         -   Color of young and mature foliage.—Lower surface: 148B with             venation of 145C.         -   Petiole.—Length: 2.4 cm. Diameter: 1.9 mm. Texture:             Moderately pubescent. Color of upper surface: 144B. Color of             lower surface: 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type and habit.—Single, zygomorphic, bilabiate flowers             arranged in verticillasters on terminal spikes.         -   Flowering season.—‘Balaupea’ produces flowers in late             spring.         -   Lastingness of bloom.—Approximately 3 to 4 days.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Spike.—Length: 10 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.6 cm.             Approximately 15 verticillasters per spike. Quantity of open             flowers per verticillaster: 4-6.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Oblate. Length: Approximately 3 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 2 mm. Color: Closest to 92D.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: 4 mm. Length: 6 mm. Petal arrangement: 5             petals, 1 upper petal forming banner, 4 lower petals fused             to form keel. All 5 petals fused at base to form tube.             Banner — Length: 5 mm. Width: 2 mm. Apex: Rounded. Margin:             Entire. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower             surface: Pubescent. Color of upper surface: Lighter than             92A. Color of lower surface: Closest to 92B. Keel — Length:             3 mm. Width: 4 mm. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Color of             upper surface: Closest to 92D. Color of lower surface:             Lighter than 92D. -   Calyx.—1 calyx tube per flower, formed by 5 fused sepals. Length:     3 mm. Diameter: 2 mm. Apex: Acute. Texture of upper surface:     Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Pubescent. Color of upper and     lower surface of sepal: 143A at base, 143C at tip.     -   -   Pedicels.—Strength: Moderate. Angle: Acute. Length:             Approximately 6 mm. Diameter: Approximately 0.5 mm. Texture:             Densely pubescent. Color: 143C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: 4 stamens. Anther shape:             Oval. Anther length: Approximately 0.5 mm. Anther color:             N92B. Pollen amount: None observed. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: 8 mm. Stigma shape: 2             parted. Stigma length: Approximately 0.5 mm. Style length:             Approximately 6.5 mm. Style color: 155D. Ovary length:             Approximately 1 mm. Ovary color: 150D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to diseases and pests common     to Coleus has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Coleus plant named ‘Balaupea’, substantially as herein shown and described. 